Shad

Few others that come to mind from that era, Mr aye bee, miles better and blue denim, all tidy performers of those years,, I do remember clansman trained by the Kerr's from memory, and random chance was was another good horse, the tears fly bye and good hores come an go, but there's some that stay with you.

Interesting how many top mares, don't carry it through to the broodmare paddock, what a grand mare she was, had some very good riders of that era, A Robinsion, M Casey, and Micheal Mein, wonder where some of these riders are these days, the later had a good strike rate, for the few times he rode her, was a very good rider of that era, and association with some very good horses,may have even ridden in Australia a few times,think his father was a jockey also, times flies by, but what a golden era of racing it was.

Yeah I'm very skeptical on those times, the pace they were going you wouldn't need the stopwatch, more like the alarm clock, reefton another track I'm suspect on times, one year they ran 2.03 and change for 2000m, 1020m times last meeting were around the 1.03 mark, yet the 1400m were 1.25, they did shift the winning post many years ago after one horse went over the outside rail taking another with it, wasn't tracks fault, jockey to busy celebrating an forgot to steer her mount around the corner, recovered the horse heading through blacks point, Gold dust was its name.

Heck, hope they had their stop watches calibrated, seems a tad fast, gates in correct position.

What time eir they run

Yes totally agree, give me a lenght any day

Fair enough, speak the truth and shame the devil, they used to say, sounded like the past president was still doing the speeches and announcing on the day, didn't hear anything from new president, bar what was in the race book, still another great days racing on the coast.

Yes ive read that article and there is a few things that aren't quite correct, even a couple of comments on who's idea it was to trot him, and it wasn't the person mentioned, I confirmed this some months with the last surviving owner,who's memory was as sharp as a tack,he just said yeah a few things were incorrect in the article, yep I'm familiar with derby street, also across the road from high school, used to be a dairy by the hospital, and one further down by the beach, was some good gallopers won on that Westport track, julloch, peligro, springs to mind, the 1200m chute was right out beside the woodwork room at high school, a couple of handy pacers to, starship, gypsy winkle who won nz oaks and Southland oaks I think, also star of utopia a handy type.

Thought it a bit odd he'd be in hari hari, he was certainly bred by bill, but never raced in his name, as far as I know, he had local farrier who may his special shoes, he was domiciled at the top end of domett street in Westport, an old friend recalled to me riding him with the saddle on and swimming him down the local creek, the last surviving owner passed away about 8 months ago, was well into his nineties,

Was very controversial call, and upset many recruit followers, enquiry took a long time as well, but rules are rules regardless, and the correct call was made, ended up getting handicapped out of nz racing, great article in book unhoppled heroes, story of his life right through to a photo the day before he was put down, even letters to his former nz owners.

He was a fair way from home, your uncle bill must have bred him, then leased him with a right of purchase, which was exercised later on, he was raced by E Walsh, M Hansby and B Woodcock, driven by B Walsh, originally paced him, but didn't enjoy the hobbled, won his first dominion in enquiry room, second one by 9 lengths, very quiet by nature, a fine looking chestnut, first nz horse to win at his first start in America, training over there was few rounds of track, straight in the box, no paddocks no housing down, he just took it all in his stride.

Interesting, he was a versatile fella, they used to put the saddle on him quite often, think he finished his career with 61 wins, about 14 of them in nz.

Ya not wrong there, home of the mighty Durban chief, you'll never see another like him, I missed greymouth meeting, but attended reefton, great day out, big crowd, last time I went to kumara, got to the gate to see finish of first race, then they bought the helicopter in to dry the track, then we went home, that was the first of a few abandonments, since the upgrade to the track, many of the tracks that have been fiddled with, are the ones who are having the issues,sometimes things are best left alone, the 20$ entry I feel is steep,

Been crowds going there for many years, no sure it's the promotion, certainly the facilities there wouldn't attract the hordes, I think it's just they appeal of out in the middle of nowhere, one off race day, and the novelty or it all, better stakes and fields, best fields of the 3 day circuit,

Oh the memories, remember Jonny alone won the jarden mile back in the eighties, at a big price, southlander knight invader finished 3rd from memory, Jonny was sired by the unfashionable blue vermillion, been some good horses grace the turf over the years, most of them some years ago.

He's a horny looking beast

They say change as good as a holiday, and I'm sure there worse places they could end up, the clubs be grateful of some numbers to fill their fields.

Be interesting to see there turnover numbers, you'd think it would surpass the other holiday venues, if their numbers are correct, good on them, the country meets always popular this time of year, Greymouth gallops today they should get a good crowd with the weather they've been having.

My only thoughts were bring back the racing there, the rest all over my head, very disappointing you'd think anything else.

Yep agree, went there myself many years ago, country racing at it's best.

A jockey told my uncle that after a race, to which he replied, yeah a 10 acre paddock.

Started the day as dead, funny as first day it was good, played fair today, winners hard to find for me, only horse I never backed up on the second day, after what a very poor run first day was Deirdre Franco, thought first day was to bad to be true, ultimate punishment for not sticking with her, the 32 divy I thought very poor given her recent form.

Track seemed ok, didn't look to be marking it when where I was watching in the stand, some didnt handle it, didn't get much rain yesterday.

Big fixed odds divvy up there by a gray trained horse, in a small field, wouldn't have minded some of that,

Yes, fields been poor previous couple of years, good to see some more numbers, good day out over there, and great grass track racing, tips anyone, hopefully I can find a roughie or two